Strategy and tactics of disarming GHG at the source: N 2O reductase crops

Shen Wan; Tonya Lynn Ward; Illimar Altosaar

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2012.04.002

Strategy and tactics of disarming GHG at the source: N ₂O reductase crops

Shen Wan, Tonya Lynn Ward, Illimar Altosaar

Biotechnology Institute

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N ₂O), the third most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG), is highly stable and plays a significant role in stratospheric ozone destruction. The primary anthropogenic source of N ₂O stems from use of nitrogen fertilizers in soil. The bacterial enzyme nitrous oxide reductase (N ₂OR), naturally found in some soils, is the only known enzyme capable of catalyzing the final step of the denitrification pathway, conversion of N ₂O to N ₂. In this opinion, we discuss potential biology-based strategies to reduce N ₂O by amplifying the amount of available enzyme catalyst in agri-system environments during crop growth and in post-harvest detritus. N ₂OR from Pseudomonas stutzeri has been tested in transgenic plants with promising results. Such seed-borne phytoremediation systems targeted towards GHGs merit field testing.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	410-415
Number of pages	6
Journal	Trends in biotechnology
Volume	30
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2012.04.002
State	Published - Aug 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and its industrial and governmental partners through the Green Crop Network. G. Raby provided valuable context and perspectives on seed-borne environmental factors such as N 2 OR. We also thank our past and present research students who have contributed to the GHG mitigation program in our laboratories.

Copyright:
Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

GM crops
Greenhouse gas
Heterologous expression
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide reductase
Phytoremediation

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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title = "Strategy and tactics of disarming GHG at the source: N 2O reductase crops",

abstract = "Nitrous oxide (N 2O), the third most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG), is highly stable and plays a significant role in stratospheric ozone destruction. The primary anthropogenic source of N 2O stems from use of nitrogen fertilizers in soil. The bacterial enzyme nitrous oxide reductase (N 2OR), naturally found in some soils, is the only known enzyme capable of catalyzing the final step of the denitrification pathway, conversion of N 2O to N 2. In this opinion, we discuss potential biology-based strategies to reduce N 2O by amplifying the amount of available enzyme catalyst in agri-system environments during crop growth and in post-harvest detritus. N 2OR from Pseudomonas stutzeri has been tested in transgenic plants with promising results. Such seed-borne phytoremediation systems targeted towards GHGs merit field testing.",

keywords = "GM crops, Greenhouse gas, Heterologous expression, Nitrous oxide, Nitrous oxide reductase, Phytoremediation",

author = "Shen Wan and Ward, {Tonya Lynn} and Illimar Altosaar",

note = "Funding Information: Funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and its industrial and governmental partners through the Green Crop Network. G. Raby provided valuable context and perspectives on seed-borne environmental factors such as N 2 OR. We also thank our past and present research students who have contributed to the GHG mitigation program in our laboratories. Copyright: Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

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N2 - Nitrous oxide (N 2O), the third most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG), is highly stable and plays a significant role in stratospheric ozone destruction. The primary anthropogenic source of N 2O stems from use of nitrogen fertilizers in soil. The bacterial enzyme nitrous oxide reductase (N 2OR), naturally found in some soils, is the only known enzyme capable of catalyzing the final step of the denitrification pathway, conversion of N 2O to N 2. In this opinion, we discuss potential biology-based strategies to reduce N 2O by amplifying the amount of available enzyme catalyst in agri-system environments during crop growth and in post-harvest detritus. N 2OR from Pseudomonas stutzeri has been tested in transgenic plants with promising results. Such seed-borne phytoremediation systems targeted towards GHGs merit field testing.

AB - Nitrous oxide (N 2O), the third most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG), is highly stable and plays a significant role in stratospheric ozone destruction. The primary anthropogenic source of N 2O stems from use of nitrogen fertilizers in soil. The bacterial enzyme nitrous oxide reductase (N 2OR), naturally found in some soils, is the only known enzyme capable of catalyzing the final step of the denitrification pathway, conversion of N 2O to N 2. In this opinion, we discuss potential biology-based strategies to reduce N 2O by amplifying the amount of available enzyme catalyst in agri-system environments during crop growth and in post-harvest detritus. N 2OR from Pseudomonas stutzeri has been tested in transgenic plants with promising results. Such seed-borne phytoremediation systems targeted towards GHGs merit field testing.

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KW - Greenhouse gas

KW - Heterologous expression

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KW - Nitrous oxide reductase

KW - Phytoremediation

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